Data processing device, data processing method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

A data processing device capable of rapidly processing data through simple operations by the user without requiring a tape editor to be already executing when capturing data from a Web browser and supplying that data to the tape editor and without requiring the user to start up the tape editor. A data capture controller  22  captures prescribed data from the Web browser  31  in a data supply controller  23  based on operations of a keyboard  12  and/or mouse  13.  The data supply controller  23  launches the tape editor  32  and supplies the captured data to the same. At this time, the process command unit  24  instructs the tape editor  32  regarding what process to execute, and printing by the tape printing device  2  is performed automatically.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a data processing device and method anda storage medium for storing the data processing method capable ofquickly executing a printing process or the like on prescribed datathrough simple operations.

BACKGROUND ART

Through recent advances in computer technology and the spreadingpopularity of the Internet, computer users are able to quickly access awide variety of data via the World Wide Web (WWW) and easily displaydesired text and images in browsing software, generally called a Webbrowser. However, often it is necessary to print this data onto paper inorder to refer to the accessed data when the user is out of the office,for example, and cannot use a computer. The simplest method of doingthis has been to use the printing function of the browser to print thetext and images exactly as they are displayed in the browser ontoA4-size paper, for example.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

However, while it is often the case that only a small portion of thedata displayed in the browser is actually necessary to the user, theprinting function of the browser prints out all displayed data,including data that is unnecessary. This results in an increased numberof printed sheets of paper that become heavy and can be difficult tocarry. This amount of paper takes up space for storage and takes up muchof the user's time when searching for required information, not tomention being a wasteful use of paper.

To avoid these problems, it is necessary to copy only the necessary datafrom the data displayed in the Web browser into a word processingprogram or the like using copy and paste functions, for example. Whennecessary, the user edits the data and then must perform an operation toprint the data from the word processing program.

To copy required information from the Web browser to a word processingprogram or the like, the user must either have the word processingprogram running constantly or start up the word processing program eachtime it is needed for use. However, running the word processing programconstantly is not desirable, since the program consumes the systemresources of the computer. On the other hand, launching the wordprocessing program each time the program is needed is inconvenient andhinders speedy data processing.

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a data processing device and method and a storage medium forstoring the data processing method that do not require a secondapplication to be already executing when capturing data from a firstapplication, such as a browser, and supplying that data to the secondapplication, such as a word processing program, and moreover are capableof rapidly processing data through simple operations by the user withoutrequiring the user to start up the second application.

These objects will be attained by a data processing device according tothe present invention comprising data selecting means capable ofselecting desired data from data displayed on a display device through aprocess by a first application; data supplying means for supplying thedata selected by the data selecting means to a second application as theobject of a preset data process of the second application, withoutrequiring an access of the second application; and process controllingmeans for executing the preset data process on the supplied data usingthe second application.

Further, the data processing method of the present invention includes astep for selecting data from data displayed on a display device throughthe process of a first application; a step for supplying the dataselected in the first step to a second application as the object of apreset data process in the second application without requiring accessto the second application; and a step for executing the preset dataprocess on the supplied data using the second application.

A storage medium according to the present invention that can be read bya computer, the storage medium storing programs for controlling thecomputer to function as a data processing device that performs dataprocessing through first and second applications according to inputcontrols based on a display on the display device, wherein the dataprocessing device comprises data selecting means capable of selectingdesired data from data displayed on a display device through a processby a first application; data supplying means for supplying the dataselected by the data selecting means to a second application as theobject of a preset data process of the second application, withoutrequiring an access of the second application; and process controllingmeans for executing the preset data process on the supplied data usingthe second application.

In the present invention, any type of application can be used as thefirst and second applications and any combination thereof. For example,the applications might be a Web browser, word processing program,spreadsheet software, database, text editor, image processor, or thelike.

With the construction described above, selected data is captured orextracted from data displayed by the first application and can beautomatically supplied to the second application by starting this secondapplication if the application is not currently running. Accordingly, itis not necessary to start up the second application in advance.Moreover, the user can perform speedy data processing through simpleoperations without needing to start up the second application. Sincedata can be supplied to this second application without performing anyoperations on the second application, the user can capture data quicklyand smoothly by simply concentrating on the first application alonewithout being preoccupied with the second application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sketch of a personal computer serving as the data processingdevice of one preferred embodiment of the present invention and a tapeprinting device connected to the personal computer;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the personal computer of FIG. 1according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual drawing showing a sample display screen on thedisplay according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a conceptual drawing showing a sample display screen on thedisplay according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a conceptual drawing showing a sample display screen on thedisplay according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6( a)-6(c) are conceptual drawings showing the display area of theassistant software according to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 6( a) showing an example display of an edit mark, FIG.6( b) showing an example display of a print mark, and FIG. 6( c) showingan example display of a drop mark;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the steps in the data processaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the steps in the data processaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the steps in the data processaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the steps in the data processaccording to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual drawing showing the display area of theassistant software according to another embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 12 is a conceptual drawing showing the display area of theassistant software according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedwhile referring to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sketch of a personal computer serving as the data processingdevice of the preferred embodiment and a tape printing device connectedto the personal computer. The personal computer 1 shown in FIG. 1includes a system unit 10; and a display 11, a keyboard 12, and a mouse13 connected to the system unit 10. The personal computer 1 is connectedto a tape printing device 2 via a cable 14. Various devices are providedin the system unit 10 of the personal computer 1, including a CPU, ROM,RAM, hard disk, floppy disk drive, and CD-ROM drive. The personalcomputer 1 can also be connected to the Internet via a communicationdevice, such as a modem, a LAN, or the like.

In the present embodiment, the hard disk in the system unit 10 stores anoperating system, such as Microsoft Windows (trademark); various commonapplication programs, such as a Web browser and a word processingprogram; and proprietary editing software (hereinafter referred to as“tape editor”) for editing print data for the tape printing device 2.The hard disk further stores an application program (hereinafterreferred to as “assistant software”) for supplying desired portions ofdata selected from data displayed on the display 11 through a Webbrowser or other application to a separate application, such as the tapeeditor.

The Web browser can display on the display 11 not only text data and/orimage data stored on the hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM, and the like,but also text data and/or image data transferred to the personalcomputer 1 from a Web server on the Internet. Here, text data denotesdata for character arrays displayed by the Hypertext Markup Language(HTML), for example. Image data denotes data of such formats as GIF,JPEG, and BMP pasted into an HTML document using HTML tags.

After the tape editor receives and edits such text data and image data,either through an automated process and/or based on user operations, thetape editor performs a process to print the data on a tape mounted inthe tape printing device 2 and to cut the tape at a prescribed position.The user can edit the data content to be printed on the tape, thecutting position, and the like by performing operations on the personalcomputer 1 while viewing the display 11.

The assistant software is a relatively compact, light application,sometimes referred to as a portal application, for capturing data fromthe browser and supplying the data to the tape editor. By being light,the application can reside in memory without consuming a large amount ofsystem resources, thereby contributing to stable operations.

The tape printing device 2 can internally accommodate an ink ribboncassette and a tape, serving as the printing medium, that is wound intoa roll. Desired text and images can be printed on the tape by a thermalhead in the tape printing device 2 that transfers ink borne on the inkribbon to the surface of the tape through a thermal transfer process.The tape and ink ribbon cassette can be mounted at prescribed positionsin the tape printing device 2 by pressing down on a cover open button 17to open a cover 16. Also provided on the outer surface of the casing ofthe tape printing device 2 are a power switch 18, an LED 19 fordisplaying various states of the tape printing device 2 by turning onand flashing lights and the like, and a tape outlet 20. As shown in FIG.1, the tape printing device 2 can be arranged both vertically andhorizontally.

Next, the steps of the data process performed by the personal computer 1will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2-10. In thisexample, desired data is captured from a Web browser and supplied to thetape editor. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the personal computer ofFIG. 1 according to the preferred embodiment. FIGS. 3-5 are conceptualdrawings showing sample displays on the display 11 according to thepreferred embodiment. FIG. 6 is also a conceptual drawing showing thedisplay area of the assistant software. FIGS. 7-10 are flowchartsshowing the steps in the data process according to the preferredembodiment.

After installing an operating system and the assistant software in thepersonal computer 1, the system unit 10 of the personal computer 1includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a data capture controller 22, a datasupply controller 23, a process command unit 24, a display controller25, a print controller 26, a mark storage unit 27, and a data storageunit 28. The units 22-28 are implemented through combinations of suchhardware as the CPU, RAM, and ROM; the operating system, and theassistant software.

When the user selects data from among data displayed on a Web browser 31serving as the source application using the keyboard 12 and/or mouse 13,the data capture controller 22 controls the process for capturing theselected data and supplying this data to the data supply controller 23.

In the data processing device of the present embodiment, the datacapture function can capture data using any of the following methods: adrag-and-drop operation for dragging and dropping the data to becaptured into a prescribed display area, a screen capture operation, anda copy operation. The user can perform any of these operating methodsthat he or she finds most suitable to capture data easily. It ispreferable that the user be able to select a desirable method from thesethree operations according to the application being used, the computerenvironment, and the like.

The data supply controller 23 controls the process for supplying thedata captured from the Web browser 31 to a tape editor 32 serving as thedestination application. The data supply controller 23 starts up thetape editor before supplying data thereto. In the present embodiment,the tape editor is the only destination application, but it ispreferable that the user be able to instruct the data supply controller23 using the keyboard 12 and/or mouse 13 to which application the datashould be supplied when a plurality of destination applications areavailable. In this case, the data supply controller 23 should notify thedisplay controller 25 to which application data is being supplied, andthe display controller 25 modifies the content displayed on the display11 (specifically the mark in a display area 43 (see FIG. 3) of theassistant software) based on this notification.

The process command unit 24 instructs the tape editor 32 which processto be executed, as indicated by the user via the keyboard 12 and/ormouse 13. To accomplish this in the preferred embodiment, an Edit flagis set in the process command unit 24. The process command unit 24 alsonotifies the display controller 25 of the process to be executed by thetape editor 32. The display controller 25 modifies the content displayedon the display 11 (specifically the mark in the display area 43 (seeFIG. 3) for the assistant software and the display/no display status ofthe tape editor) based on this notification.

The display controller 25 controls the image displayed on the display11. Various data are issued to the display controller 25, includingdisplay content for the Web browser 31 and tape editor 32, operations bythe keyboard 12 and/or mouse 13, and instructions from the data supplycontroller 23 and process command unit 24. The display controller 25determines the content to be displayed on the display 11 based on thesedata. The mark storage unit 27 is connected to the display controller 25and stores a plurality of marks related to the assistant software thatis depicted on the display 11.

The print controller 26 controls the process for printing data contentin the tape editor 32 on the tape printing device 2. In the presentembodiment, the print controller 26 can be made active automaticallyafter the tape editor 32 is launched and data is automatically edited,or the print controller 26 can be made active after the tape editor 32is launched and the user edits the data and issues a print command. Thedata storage unit 28 is used to store data supplied to the tape editor32.

As shown in FIG. 3, the Web browser is displayed as the sourceapplication in a display area (window) 42 while the assistant softwareis displayed in the display area 43 within a display screen 41 of thedisplay 11. In the example of FIG. 3, a single JPEG image is displayedalong with a character array described in HTML in the display area 42 ofthe Web browser. A mark of two concentric circles (⊚) is displayed inthe center of the display area 43 of the assistant software along withan “Edit” check box below the mark, as shown in the enlarged view ofFIG. 6( a). The “Edit” check box has been checked by a user mouse click.If data is captured when the “Edit” check box is checked, as describedlater, the tape editor is displayed in the display screen 41 along withthe captured data, enabling the user to edit this captured data.Further, the same mark as that indicated in the center of the displayarea 43 (the ⊚ in FIG. 3) is also displayed in an indicator area 44 onthe taskbar located on the bottom of the display screen 41.

In the present embodiment, the assistant software can either beautomatically started up according to instructions from the driver ofthe tape printing device 2 when the power of the tape printing device 2is turned ON and while the operating system of the personal computer 1is executing, or can be launched according to instructions from theuser, such as a mouse click over a prescribed mark or the like. Sincethe assistant software becomes a resident program when the power of thetape printing device 2 is turned ON in the present embodiment, it ispossible to supply data to the tape editor quickly.

The size of the display area 43 can be modified to an arbitrary sizethrough the control of the display controller 25 based on the user'sinstructions. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to modifythe display area 43 to a slightly larger display area 43′ (or a smallerdisplay area 43″). Since the size of the display area 43 can be modifiedto suit various conditions, such as the user's preference and the sizeof the display screen 41, it is possible to construct an environmentthat facilitates data processing for the user. Note that it is notabsolutely necessary to provide the display area 43 shown in FIG. 3 forthe assistant software. For example, it is possible to simply display amark in the indicator area 44 indicating that the assistant software hasbeen launched.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the display area 42 is enlarged to a displayarea 42′ approximately the same size as the display screen 41, therebyoverlapping the display area 43 of the assistant software, the displayarea 43 is always displayed on top of the display area 42′ and on top ofother display areas, regardless of which display area is active.Similarly, when the display area 42 is left at the same size but movedto a position overlapping the display area 43, the display area 43 againremains on top of the display area 42 and other display areas. Thedisplay area 43 can always be displayed on top of other display areas byconfiguring the display controller 25 to control the attributes of thedisplay area 43 related to the screen display at the operating systemlevel. By always displaying the display area 43 on top in this way, itis easy to drag and drop data into the display area 43, as describedlater. Further, the user is always able to check the mark indicated inthe display area 43 of the assistant software.

In the present embodiment, when the assistant software is started up dueto the power of the tape printing device 2 being turned on, as shown inStep S1 of FIG. 7, the Edit flag, which indicates whether to edit datawith the tape editor, is set to a default value of ON and written to theprocess command unit 24. At the same time, the “Edit” check box ischecked in the display area 43 due to this initialization process.Further, the double concentric circle mark (⊚), as shown in FIG. 6( a),is selected from the mark storage unit 27 and displayed as the mark inthe display area 43.

In Step S2, the data capture controller 22 determines whether datadisplayed in the display area 42 of the Web browser has been dropped inthe display area 43 of the assistant software through a drag-and-dropoperation (click and shoot operation) based on operations of the mouse13. If the data capture controller 22 determines that a drop operationhas not been performed in the display area 43 (No in S2), then the datacapture controller 22 determines in S3 based on operations of the mouse13 whether data is currently being moved within the display screen 41 bya drag operation. If the data capture controller 22 determines that nodata is being dragged (No in S3), then the process command unit 24determines in S4 whether the “Edit” check box in the display area 43 hasbeen checked by the mouse 13. If the process command unit 24 determinesthat the “Edit” check box has not been checked (No in S4), then the sameprocess is repeated from Step S2. However, if the process command unit24 determines that the “Edit” check box has been checked (Yes in S4),the process advances to Step S5.

In Step S5, shown in FIG. 8, first the process command unit 24determines whether the Edit flag is set to ON in Step S51. If theprocess command unit 24 determines that the Edit flag is ON (Yes inS51), then the Edit flag is set to OFF in S52. In Step S53, the displaycontroller 25 changes the mark in the display area 43 to a print markextracted from the mark storage unit 27, for example a triangular mark(Δ), as shown in FIG. 6( b). If the process command unit 24 determinesthat the Edit flag is OFF in S51 (No in S51), then the Edit flag is setto ON in S54. In Step S55, the display controller 25 changes the mark inthe display area 43 to an Edit mark extracted from the mark storage unit27 (for example, the double concentric circles ⊚ shown in FIG. 6( a)).

However, if the data capture controller 22 determines that data iscurrently being dragged in S3 (Yes in S3), then the display controller25 changes the mark in the display area 43 to a drop mark extracted fromthe mark storage unit 27 (such as a square mark □, as shown in FIG. 6(c)). Hence, in the present embodiment, three types of marks have beenprepared for display in the display area 43: the edit mark shown in FIG.6( a), the print mark shown in FIG. 6( b), and the drop mark shown inFIG. 6( c). These marks are selected from the available marks anddisplayed based on the user's actions. Accordingly, the user can confirmat a glance the current setting status, data processing status, or thelike based on the mark displayed in the display area 43.

In Step S2, if the data capture controller 22 determines that a dropoperation was executed in the display area 43 (Yes in S2), then theimage and/or text data selected by a drag of the mouse 13 is captured inthe data supply controller 23 and the process advances to Step S7 tochange the drop mark in the display area 43 back to the original markbased on the current Edit flag. To achieve this, the process commandunit 24 determines whether the current Edit flag is set to ON in StepS71, shown in FIG. 9. If the Edit flag is set to ON (Yes in S71), thenthe mark in the display area 43 is changed in S72 to the edit markextracted from the mark storage unit 27. However, if the Edit flag isset to OFF (No in S71), then the mark in the display area 43 is changedin S73 to the print mark extracted from the mark storage unit 27.

After the mark in the display area 43 is returned to the original markin the process of Step S7, the process advances to Step S8. In Step S8,a process is executed to supply the data captured in the data supplycontroller 23 through the drag-and-drop operation to the tape editor. Toachieve this, the process command unit 24 determines in S81 whether theEdit flag is currently set to ON, as shown in FIG. 10. If the Edit flagis set to ON (Yes in S81), then the data supply controller 23 launchesthe tape editor in a visible manner in Step S82, that is, displays thetape editor in the display screen of the display 11. In Step S83, thecaptured data is transferred from the data supply controller 23 to thetape editor, and the process command unit 24 notifies the tape editor ofthe user's wish to edit data. For example, when a JPEG image is capturedfrom the Web browser, the image is supplied to the tape editor whileretaining its data format, as shown in FIG. 5, and the image isdisplayed inside a display area 45 of the tape editor. Accordingly, theuser can perform an appropriate image process on the JPEG image byoperating the tape editor and subsequently print the data or store thedata on the hard disk.

In Step S81, if the Edit flag is set to OFF (No in S81), then the tapeeditor is started up in a non-display mode in Step S84, that is, thetape editor is not displayed in the display screen of the display 11. InStep S85, the captured data is transferred from the data supplycontroller 23 to the tape editor. In S86, a print command indicatingthat printing should begin immediately without editing by the user istransferred to the tape editor. As a result, the print controller 26becomes active and the printing is executed by the tape printing device2. It is preferable that the tape editor performs data editing byautomatically determining the sizes of text and images, the layout, andother styles to achieve a readable printout, and by editing the dataautomatically according to these determinations. In Step S87, theprocess command unit 24 transfers a quit command to the tape editor, andthe tape editor quits. After the process of Step S8 is completed, thesame operation is repeated from Step S2.

In the method of the present embodiment described above, data selectedfrom among data displayed in a browser can be captured. The tape editorcan be started up and the data can be automatically supplied to the tapeeditor. Accordingly, it is not necessary for the tape editor to bealready running and, moreover, the user can print desired data quicklyand through simple operations without performing an operation to startupthe tape editor. Since data can be supplied to the tape editor withoutoperating the same, the user need not worry about the tape editor, butcan concentrate on the browser when capturing data and can quickly andsmoothly perform a data capture. By checking or unchecking the “Edit”check box with a mouse click, the user can set the operations of thetape editor to be executed after data is supplied thereto. Accordingly,it is possible to direct the tape editor selectively to executeprocesses according to the user's wishes.

In the embodiment described above, the drag-and-drop operation using themouse 13 is described as an example of the method for capturing data.However, data capture by the data capture controller 22 can also beperformed by first selecting data using a mouse drag or keyboardoperation and then performing a copy operation. By performing a copyoperation, the selected data is copied to the clipboard, which is acomponent of the data supply controller 23. Data capture by the datacapture controller 22 can also be performed by a screen captureoperation in which a rectangular area selected by the mouse from amongdata displayed in the display 11 is captured as bitmap image data.Therefore, in the present embodiment, the user can capture data by anyone of these operating methods deemed appropriate by the user, therebyfacilitating the data capture operation.

While the invention has been described in detail with reference tospecific embodiments thereof, it would be apparent to those skilled inthe art that many modifications and variations may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of whichis defined by the attached claims. For example, only an “Edit” check boxhas been provided in the display area 43 in the embodiment describedabove. However, as shown in FIG. 11, a “Save” checkbox, for example, canalso be provided in the display area 43. By providing this checkbox, theuser can save desired data to the hard disk without displaying the tapeeditor. Further, a “Print” checkbox can also be provided in the displayarea 43, as shown in FIG. 11. With this construction, the user caneasily specify a desired process and can also confirm at a glance whichprocesses are currently being specified.

In the embodiment described above, the assistant software can beprovided with three modes for capturing data from the data selected inthe browser according to the user's settings: a mode for capturing onlytext, a mode for capturing only image data, and a mode for capturingboth text data and image data. This configuration can simplify theuser's operations for data selection during a data capture operation.The method for setting the mode can be implemented by the checkboxformat, as shown in FIG. 12. Further, it is possible to set the modecollectively for all “edit,” “save,” and “print” operations or to setthe modes individually for each operation.

When a portion of the captured text data is a description in the HTMLlink format, this data can be displayed in and printed from the tapeeditor in the same format displayed in the browser, or the data contentat the link destination (text or image) can be developed and printed(for example, as a thumbnail image).

In the embodiment described above, the concentric circle mark (⊚),triangular mark (Δ), and square mark (□) are displayed based on actionsby the user. However, the present invention is not limited to thesesymbols. Other characters can be used. It is also possible to change thesymbol color or background color in the display area in response todifferent actions by the user.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention enables the user to performquick data processing through simple operations, without requiring asecond application to be pre-started and without requiring the user toperform an operation to start the second application. Further, the userneed not be concerned with the second application, but can concentrateon the first application while capturing data and can therefore quicklyand smoothly perform a data capture.

1. A data processing device for executing data processes using a first application and a second application according to input operations, the input operations performed based on data displayed on a display device, the data processing device comprising: a data capture controller that selects desired data from data displayed on a first display window of the display device through a process performed in the first application; a data supply controller that supplies the desired data as supplied data selected by the data capture controller to the second application as an object of a preset data process of the second application, without a user starting up the second application; and a process command unit that executes the preset data process on the supplied data using the second application, wherein the preset data process includes at least one of printing contents of the supplied data and generating a second display window on the display device to allow the user to edit the supplied data, the second display window being different from the first display window; wherein the data supply controller includes a third application; and wherein the third application is a resident program that is constantly running while a device relating to the second application is powered on, the third application indicating a status of data capture or a process run by the second application.
 2. A data processing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a process specifying indicator that specifies a data process to be executed by the second application on data supplied to the second application from the data supply controller.
 3. A data processing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second display window of the second application is automatically started at a time data is selected by the data capture controller when an edit process is specified by the process specifying indicator.
 4. A data processing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a display controller visibly displays an indication of the data process specified by the process specifying indicator in a prescribed display area on the display device as a data process to be executed by the second application.
 5. A data processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a selecting operation is performed on the desired data selected by the data capture controller by moving the selected desired data to a prescribed display area on the display device through any of a drag-and-drop operation, an image capture operation, and a copy operation.
 6. A data processing device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data capture controller comprises a data type specifying indicator that specifies a type of data to be supplied to the second application; and the data supply controller supplies to the second application only the type of data specified by the data type specifying indicator from among the desired data selected by the data capture controller.
 7. A data processing device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a display controller that modifies a size of the prescribed display area.
 8. A data processing device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a display controller controls the display device such that the prescribed display area is always displayed on top, even when the first and second display windows overlap the prescribed display area.
 9. A data processing device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the display controller displays different content in the prescribed display area according to a specified data process or executing status of a data process.
 10. A data processing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the display controller displays characters or symbols corresponding to the specified data process or the executing status of the data process.
 11. A data processing device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a process specifying indicator that specifies a process to be executed by the second application on the desired data supplied to the second application from the data supply controller.
 12. A data processing device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the display controller visibly displays an indication of the process specified by the process specifying indicator in the prescribed display area as a process to be executed by the second application.
 13. The data processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first application is an Internet browser that displays contents of Internet websites.
 14. A data processing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the non-editing process includes at least one of printing contents of the supplied data and saving the supplied data in a storage device.
 15. A data processing method for executing data processes using a first application and a second application according to input operations, the input operations performed based on data displayed on a display device, the method comprising: selecting desired data from data displayed in a first display window on the display device through a process performed in the first application; supplying the desired data as supplied data to the second application as an object of a preset data process of the second application without a user starting up the second application; and executing the preset data process on the supplied data using the second application, wherein the preset data process includes at least one of printing contents of the supplied data and generating a second display window on the display device to allow the user to edit the supplied data, the second display window being different from the first display window; wherein the supplying the desired data includes using a third application; and wherein the third application is a resident program that is constantly running while a device relating to the second application is powered on, the third application indicating a status of data capture or a process run by the second application, the data processing device being a device on which the data processes are executed.
 16. The data processing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first application is an Internet browser that displays contents of Internet websites.
 17. A data processing method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the non-editing process includes at least one of printing contents of the supplied data and saving the supplied data in a storage device.
 18. A computer-readable product including computer-executable instructions for controlling a computer to function as a data processing device that performs data processing through first and second applications according to input operations, the input operations performed based on data displayed on a display device, the instructions including: instructions for selecting desired data from data displayed in a first display window on the display device through a process performed in the first application; instructions for supplying the desired data as supplied data to the second application as an object of a preset data process of the second application, without a user starting up the second application; and instructions for executing the preset data process on the supplied data using the second application, wherein the preset data process includes at least one of printing contents of the supplied data and generating a second display window on the display device to allow the user to edit the supplied data, the second display window being different from the first display window; wherein the instructions for supplying the desired data include using a third application; and wherein the third application is a resident program that is constantly running while a device relating to the second application is powered on, the third application indicating a status of data capture or a process run by the second application.
 19. The computer-readable product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first application is an Internet browser that displays contents of Internet websites.
 20. A computer-readable product as claimed in claim 18, wherein the non-editing process includes at least one of printing contents of the supplied data and saving the supplied data in a storage device. 